STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BEHAVIOR OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
Adaptations
A major contribution to the extinction of a species is their inability to adapt to changes in the environment. Species that are more likely to become extinct include ones that have special living conditions or are only able to survive off of a single type of food. In contrary, species that live in many different types of environments and can live off of a variety of foods are more likely to adapt to changes in the environment.
Giant Panda from China (AP Images)
An example of a species that would be more susceptible to extinction caused by environmental changes is the giant panda. As shown in the picture to the left, a giant panda feeds almost only on bamboo. If there happened to be a large cutoff of bamboo, or the giant panda species was forced to move to an environment with no bamboo, the species would have a very difficult time trying to adapt to the changes, thus making it likely for the species to become extinct (Wall 2008).
Reproduction
Another cause of extinction is the species ability to reproduce offspring. A species that is able to produce many offspring in a short period is less vulnerable to extinction. The opposite, a species that produces only one or two offspring, is more vulnerable to extinction because of factors such as disease and mutation. For example, if a Siberian tiger gave birth and its offspring had a lethal mutation, the death would affect the species more than if offspring of rodents had died. Species such as the Siberian tiger cannot rebound from low populations quickly, making them more susceptable to extinction.
Competition
Competition between different species, interspecific competition, is another reason that certain species are driven to extinction (Competition 2006). Resources that are commonly competed for include shelter and food. In many bird species, there is competition between the species for a nesting site. Certain bird species only choose nesting sites at higher heights while others choose lower nesting sites. Either preference, there will be numerous species competing for safe living conditions. The species that is able to obtain the most comfortable living conditions that suit themselves will be the species that "lasts longer".
The competition for food is the most common form of competiton. Species compete all the time for food, whether it be a predator/prey relationship or two different species competing for the same source. The species that has the quickest way of obtaining the food or obtaining more of the food, will be the species that in the end will turn out "victorious".
STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BEHAVIOR OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
Adaptations
A major contribution to the extinction of a species is their inability to adapt to changes in the environment. Species that are more likely to become extinct include ones that have special living conditions or are only able to survive off of a single type of food. In contrary, species that live in many different types of environments and can live off of a variety of foods are more likely to adapt to changes in the environment.Reproduction
Another cause of extinction is the species ability to reproduce offspring. A species that is able to produce many offspring in a short period is less vulnerable to extinction. The opposite, a species that produces only one or two offspring, is more vulnerable to extinction because of factors such as disease and mutation. For example, if a Siberian tiger gave birth and its offspring had a lethal mutation, the death would affect the species more than if offspring of rodents had died. Species such as the Siberian tiger cannot rebound from low populations quickly, making them more susceptable to extinction.Competition
Competition between different species, interspecific competition, is another reason that certain species are driven to extinction (Competition 2006). Resources that are commonly competed for include shelter and food. In many bird species, there is competition between the species for a nesting site. Certain bird species only choose nesting sites at higher heights while others choose lower nesting sites. Either preference, there will be numerous species competing for safe living conditions. The species that is able to obtain the most comfortable living conditions that suit themselves will be the species that "lasts longer".The competition for food is the most common form of competiton. Species compete all the time for food, whether it be a predator/prey relationship or two different species competing for the same source. The species that has the quickest way of obtaining the food or obtaining more of the food, will be the species that in the end will turn out "victorious".
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